|
Explore the magnificent Myall Lakes area then return to the comfort of Port Stephens Marina Resort.
The Myall Lakes stretch out in an ancient river basin locked in between high sand dunes on the coast and much older, flatter dunes on the west. For forty kilometres, beaches, offshore islands and the most extensive brackish lake system on the state's coastline nurture a wealth of ecological treasures. A magic series of geological events caused a diverse substrate that supports an immense range of floristic associations, from wildflower heathlands to luxurious rainforests.
The dunes cradling the lakes run parallel to the ocean and have been built up by the sea over various ice ages and fluctuating sea levels. On the coastal edge, old land continues to be washed with new sands. Between Hawks Nest and Seal Rocks moving 'aeolian' dunes change their shape near the seashore, where they become elegant mobiles, sculptured by the eye of the wind.
Owing to the landlocked nature of the lakes there is virtually no tidal flushing. Salt levels vary greatly from near saltwater at the prawning village of Tamboy-where the Myall River leads to Port Stephens from Bombah Broadwater-to almost fresh water at Bungwahl on the northern shore of Myall Lake. Extensive shallows and seagrass meadows provide important breeding and feeding areas for colonies of black swans and water birds, as well as supporting a complex association of salt and freshwater animal life. The Myall Lake system is a dynamic but extremely fragile area of precious coastal lagoons, constantly affected by fluctuating water levels due to storms and rainfall and tidal movement in the south.
At Mungo Brush an intriguing juxtaposition of wildflower heathlands, littoral rainforest, paperbark forest and dry eucalypt forest exists where ancient carboniferous sandstones are exposed in a sea of recent sands. About one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand years ago, when the sea level was higher and the coastline ran on the western side of the Myall River, Mungo Brush was an island-similar to offshore John Gould Island. Both support rainforest in soil derived from weathered sandstone, which is richer in nutrients than the surrounding, relatively recent, infertile sands.
The interlocking complexity of plant communities along the Mungo Brush track make it a haven for birdwatchers. Within a few kilometres one can walk from the silvery paperbark forests fringing the lake shore-lit up with fluffy cream cones in autumn, filled with nectar for flocks of honeyeaters-to dark, wet rainforests and open wildflower 'gardens'.
Two well documented walks of national significance leave Hawks Nest to Mungo Brush and The Great Lakes. Excellent informative booklets describing the walks are available from visitor information centres at Tea Gardens and Forster.
Text and images from Snowgums to Sand see www.Ozeplaces.com/i2.htm.
|
